ND girls split with Lee Academy

By Will Dickins
The North Delta girls’ basketball team took care of Lee Academy Thursday night as they traveled to Clarksdale to defeat the Colts 57-40.
The Green Wave 1-3-1 defense gave Lee Academy fits all night long.  They fought for 18 total steals on the night and were able to turn many into easy baskets on the other end.
When the game seemed to slow down, North Delta found ways to score against Lee’s man-to-man defense.
Offensively, North Delta used that defense to score as well as an aggressive play to get easy shots close to the basket.
Most of the game’s scoring went to three players on the night as they turned their aggressiveness into points on the scoreboard.
Ally Alford (22 points) showed her reign over the three-point line as well as score using layups and pull up jumpers.  Behind her was Faith Bollinger (17 points) who showed off her jump shot all night as she handled the ball as well as shooting off the pass.
Third leading scorer was Isabella Morrow (nine points).  Morrow had half of her points from the free throw line to go along with a few mid-range field goals.  Alford and Faith Bollinger could not be stopped.
Lee Academy’s frustration continued the entire night which resulted in a North Delta 16-point lead in the third quarter before they cruised to the finish line to earn another district win.
Alford added four rebounds, four steals, and one assist to her 22 points on the night.  Faith Bollinger had two rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Morrow had two rebounds, three steals and one assist.
Other scorers included: Ema Cay Donaldson, two points, seven rebounds, and two steals; Maci Kirkland, three points, eight rebounds, and two steals;  Sayle Stennett, two points, two rebounds, one steal, and one assist; and Hannah Bollinger, two steals and two rebounds.
Lee Academy JH 47, ND 41
The girls’ Junior Varsity team lost their first game of the season 47-41.
They started off slow before trying to come back late in the game.  They were outscored by 15 points in the first half before storming back in the second half.  A big 18-point fourth quarter was just not enough as Lee Academy squeaked away with the win.
The leading scorers for the game were Alford, 15, and Faith Bollinger, eight.  Other scorers were:  Payton Scott and Libby Miller, four each; two, Sayle Stennett and Donaldson, three each, Hannah Bollinger  and Shelby Grace Boone, two each.
The teams return to district action today, hosting St. Joseph beginning at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, North Delta will host district foe Kirk Academy Thursday at 3:30 p.m.